Human Trafficking Case Leads to Two Arrests for Pimping and Pandering

A Task Force including the San Rafael Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marin County Probation Department and the Marin County Sheriff’s Department concluded a six month investigation into claims of Human Trafficking in the Canal.

Erik Martinez Cosme, a 33 year old Napa resident and Delmar Tanchez, a 31 year old San Rafael resident were arrested on April 10, 2014 after a six-month investigation into human trafficking concluded with the service of two search warrants, one in San Rafael and one in Napa.

The human trafficking case began in October of 2013 after the San Rafael Police Department received a complaint of a prostitution operation in the Canal Neighborhood of San Rafael. Officers from the Marin County Probation Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were called to assist in the investigation.

As the investigation progressed, it was learned that Erick Cosme was operating a residence used solely for the purposes of prostitution and that he benefitted financially from the operation. The investigation revealed that the prostitution operation moved to residences in different areas of the Canal Neighborhood and finally settled in at an apartment at 260 Canal Street, San Rafael. It was also discovered that Cosme was also operating a second brothel at his home in Napa.

Every week Cosme would facilitate the transportation of at least two new women to and from his prostitution operation. The women were always of Hispanic decent and were suspected of being new immigrants to this country from Central America.

At the time of the arrest, there were two women in the apartment and we are treating them as victims of human trafficking. The two victims were offered services from the Center for Domestic Peace and were released.

Erik Martinez Cosme and Delmar Tanchez were booked on charges of 266H (A) PC-Pimping, 266I (b)- Pandering and 315 PC-Keeping a house for prostitution.

If anyone has any questions, please contact Sergeant Scott Eberle at (415) 485-3000.